fleinniken 2013

Michelle Flenniken, Associate Professor

Ph.D. from Montana State University, 2006

B.S. Biology, Chemistry minor, University of Iowa, 1998

Office: 310 Plant BioScience Building
Lab: 337 Plant BioScience Building

Phone: 406-994-7229 (office)
406-994-5152 (lab)
Email Dr. Flenniken

Support Honey Bee Research

Learn more about Pollinator Health Research at MSU

Learn more about Honey Bee Research and the Pollinator Garden

 

Interested in joining the lab?

Please send an email to Michelle Flenniken (michelle.flenniken@montana.edu ), stating your research interests and experience. Please attached a CV describing your educational accomplishments, publication record, and contact information of your references.


Flenniken Lab Members

 

 

 
naomi kaku msu picture

Naomi Kaku

PhD student,

Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology              

B.S. Cell and Molecular Biology, Central Washington University

My research focuses on understanding the impacts of sublethal virus infections on honey bees and mechanisms of honey bee antiviral defense.

 

    337 Plant BioScience Building
    (406)-994-5152
    ng.kaku@gmail.com 

 

 
Cayley

Cayley Faurot-Daniels

Masters student, Ecology - Fall 2021  with Dr. D. Debinski

Flenniken Lab Research Assistant 2015-2020

 

 
Hunter Charles

Hunter Charles

PhD student, Microbiology and Cell Biology   

B.S. Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry minor, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

My research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of honey bee antiviral defense, with an emphasis on identification of the molecular triggers of immune pathways at the cellular level.

    337 Plant BioScience Building
   hunterscharles@gmail.com 
Keera Paull

Keera Paull

PhD student, Microbiology and Cell Biology   

B.S. Microbiology,  University of Idaho

My research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of honey bee antiviral defense, with an emphasis determining the antiviral efficacy of immune system stimulants.

   337 Plant BioScience Building
   keera.paull@student.montana.edu

 

 

Boone Jones

Boone Jones

Masters student, Microbiology and Cell Biology   

B.S. Plant and Environmental Sciences with Plant Pathology and Biology minors, Clemson University

My research focuses on understanding potato plant antiviral mechanims that limit Potato Virus Y infections.

   337 Plant BioScience Building
   boone.jones1@student.montana.edu 

Flenniken Lab - Past Members and Current Positions

fenali

Fenali Parekh, PhD

PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, 2021

Dissertation Title: Honey Bee Antiviral Defense Mechanisms at the Invidual and Cellular Levels

B.S. and M.S. degree in Biotechnology from Pune University Work experience as a Patent Analyst for the Government of India

Current Postion: Microbion

 

 

Alex McMenamin

Alex McMenamin, PhD

PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, 2021

Dissertation Title: Honey Bee Antiviral Defense Mechanisms at the Invidual and Cellular Levels

Masters in Entomology, Penn State University, 2015

Current Postion: Postdoctoral Fellow, USDA  - Agricultural Reserach Service - Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

 

 

brian

Brian Ross, PhD

PhD in Plant Genetics, 2021

Dissertation Title: Undertstanding Resistance and Transcriptional Response to Potato Virus Y Infection in Potato Plants

Current Position: Associate Scientist 2, Illumina, Madison, WI

 

 

Laura

Laura Brutscher, PhD

PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, 2017

Dissertation Title: Insect Microbe Interactions: Honey Bee Antiviral Defense Mechanisms and Characterization of Spiroplasma colonizing wheat stem sawfly
Current Position:  Postdoctoral Scholar with Dr. Elina Lastro Nino, University of California Davis

 

will

Will Glenny, MS

MS in Ecology, 2017 with Flenniken and Burkle, MSU

PhD in Ecology and Environmental Studies, 2022 with Burkle MSU

MS Thesis Title: Evaluating the Effects of Climate Change and Pathogens on Pollinator Health using Plant Functional Traits and Longitudinal Monitoring

Current Position:  Postdoctoral Scholar, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany

 

Boyd photo

Elisa Boyd, MS

MS in Plant Sciences, 2016

Thesis Title: Potato and Potato Virus Y: The Effect of Cultivar, Seed Type, and Defense-Inducing Agents on PVY Incidence 
Current Position:  Towne's Harvest Garden Production Manager, Montana State University
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Marie Pizzorno, PhD

Associate Professor of Biology & Cell Biology/Biochemistry. Visiting Scientist at MSU: 2017-2018.

BA - Biology & Chemistry, Whittier College (1985)
PhD - Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (1991)

 

 

 

Katie D

Katie Daughenbaugh, PhDResearch Associate  Lab Manager

PhD, Veterinary Molecular Biology

BS, 2000, Montana State University, Biochemistry, Spanish Minor
PhD, 2005, Montana State University, Veterinary Molecular Biology (Dissertation: The Role of VPg in Translation of Calicivirus RNA)
 
I worked in the Flenniken lab at MSU from 2012 -2021, investigating honey bee - virus interactions at the molecular level, mentoring students, and carrying out importan lab management duties.

 

Hrithik

Hrithik Pahuja,Rotation Student  Spring 2022

B.S. in Biotechnology Punjab Agricultural University, LDH, IN. 

My family is involved in potato seed production and honey processing in India. I learned about Potato Virus Y Infection in Potato Plants during the Spring 2022 semester.